Nightmare Escape (Dream Jumper Series #1)

by Lucas Turnbloom, Greg Grunberg, Lucas Turnbloom (Illustrator)

Overview

Ben has a problem. When he sleeps he dreams, and when he dreams, they're all nightmares! But he can also jump into other people's dreams. So when his friends start falling victim to an evil dream-monster that prevents them from waking, Ben knows he has to help them. Easier said than done when dreams can shift and the monster knows his way around the ever-changing landscape of the mind! With help from a talking rabbit-companion who has a mysterious past, Ben might just be able to defeat the monster and save his friends . . . if he can figure out how to use the power within him against his enemies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545826051
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	06/28/2016
Series:	Dream Jumper , #1
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	386,598
File size:	292 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Greg Grunberg is best known for his roles in the award-winning series Heroes, Alias, and Felicity. Dream Jumper is his first graphic novel, which was inspired by dreams described by his son, Ben. Greg lives in Los Angeles, California.

Lucas Turnbloom is an award-winning cartoonist and illustrator who’s best known for his comic strip, "Imagine THIS." He was a contributing artist for Darkhorse’s Axe Cop graphic novel series. His work has also appeared in USA Today, and TIME.com. Lucas currently resides in San Diego with his wife and two sons.

Editorial Reviews

03/01/2016
Gr 5–8—Ben has a gift, or maybe it's a curse—he hasn't decided yet. He can jump into other people's dreams. Unfortunately, more often than not, he ends up jumping into someone's nightmare instead. When some of Ben's classmates, including the girl of his own dreams, fall prey to a sleeping sickness, he knows he may be the only one who can save them. It won't be easy, though; someone or something in the dream world wants Ben's abilities for his own and will stop at nothing to get them. Ben will have to work with some strange new companions and learn to navigate the dream world before it's too late. Being the first in a series, the story is a little heavy on exposition, but it does do a good job of making the information enjoyable and creating a believable dream world as well as setting the stage for volumes to come. Turnbloom's art is reminiscent of Jeff Smith's and suits the tone and the characters nicely. Though there are a few inconsistencies, Grunberg's characters are all interesting and enjoyable. This is a quick, entertaining tale that will find a middle school audience. VERDICT A fun ride for middle schoolers looking for their next series.—Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX

School Library Journal

Ben has disturbing dreams, and often, he finds himself in someone else’s nightmare. His Mom takes him to a sleep clinic, but things just get more complicated. They learn about Ward Z, where children and adults are placed when they are trapped in a permanent dream state and cannot wake up. But even worse is the fact that some of Ben’s classmates—and even a possible girlfriend—are now in Ward Z. The core of the book is Ben’s discovery, with the help of a rabbit named Lewis, that his friends are being held captive in their nightmares by an evil monster from another world. There is much more to this story than just a “rescue friends from evil” theme. The power of dreams and hidden fears is central to the story, and helping people face and overcome their nightmares is a compelling topic running through the action. Readers familiar with “Star Wars” and its essential back-story of good versus evil will recognize some of the same elements here. The illustrations are excellent. Large, uncluttered, and usually not more than three panels to a page, they keep the focus on the characters and the plot. The colors are much richer and vibrant than those of most graphic novels. This book has just the right amount of gravity, humor, and action to make it a favorite among young fantasy and science fiction fans. This is the first book in a series. Book one in the “Dream Jumper” series. Reviewer: Leona Illig; Ages 7 to 12.

Children's Literature - Leona Illig

2016-03-30
When the people Ben sees in his frequent nightmares turn out to be real people lulled from the waking world by a dream monster, he has to learn to navigate his dream world and save them.As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Ben's friend Jake knows all about his sleep troubles—and his ability to jump into other people's nightmares to help. Jake wants to turn it into a business, but Ben's only really concerned about his crush, Kaylee Wu, fellow student and English tutor. Kaylee misses their first tutoring session, then several days of school. Ben's mother takes him to a sleep clinic where he spots two of the kids from his dream and Kaylee, all in the same mysterious deep sleep. Ben hurries to the sleep study room to get to sleep and save her, thus beginning a series of tough battles to fulfill his destiny as a Dream Jumper. This fast-paced adventure gains a lot from Turnbloom's expressive art, and though the story hits a lot of tropes—the Chosen One with heretofore unseen power, the chubby-and-nerdy-but-lovable best friend, the powerful talisman, an evil villain and an even more evil villain, the damsel in distress who gets some kicks in to help the hero—it's charming enough to engage young readers. Ben and Jake are white, Kaylee is Asian, and the two kids from Ben's dream are black.A fine series kickoff, with the potential to tread some fresher ground in coming installments. (Graphic adventure. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews